When Chelsea Torres and her spouse went for an ultrasound and discovered two heartbeats, their lives took a permanent turn. Regrettably, their moment of joy was short-lived, as their physician delivered tragic news.
When her physician imparted unwanted news, Chelsea Torres, who hailed from Blackfoot, Idaho, was taken aback. Nonetheless, it wasn’t until her 10-week scan that she comprehended the gravity of the matter.
Torres and her spouse faced an incredibly difficult choice regarding the fate of their twins after receiving the news. However, the pair united and arrived at a decision that they believed was optimal for both their offspring and their household.
Torres received the news of her pregnancy in June 2016, and soon after, she discovered that she was carrying twins. However, during one of her scans, medical professionals informed her that the twins were conjoined at the pelvis.
Torres never anticipated having conjoined twins and it took her and her husband three days to come to terms with the news. Initially, Torres even wondered if it was an error and that the twins were simply positioned closely in the womb.
The gravity of the situation hit Torres when her doctor inquired about cramping or bleeding. She realized that something was amiss, and she and her husband were faced with the decision of whether to terminate the pregnancy.
Although doctors recommended terminating the pregnancy due to potential health risks for both Torres and the twins, the couple opted to keep the babies and named them Callie and Carter.
Torres Felt She Had to Hide Her Children
Following the birth of Callie and Carter, Torres encountered a new hurdle: shielding her twins from public scrutiny. She confessed:
“When they were babies, it was hard for me. People would stare and take pictures. I actually ended up smashing someone’s phone.”
To avoid people staring at her twins or taking unauthorized photos, Torres revealed that she would cover them with a blanket while in a stroller. She admitted that this was a simpler option, stating, “It was just easier to hide them.”
Since the time when Torres felt compelled to conceal her children from public view, significant progress has been made. Callie and Carter are currently six years old, and Torres now exhibits them more frequently.
According to Torres, she posts pictures of her kindergartners to increase awareness of the distinctions that children can possess. She also hopes to instill in her children that having a conjoined body is not something negative.
Callie and Carter are joined together from the sternum downwards. Although they have separate hearts and stomachs, they share a bladder and intestinal tract. Additionally, each twin controls one leg on opposite sides.
Callie and Carter were considered among the fortunate conjoined twins upon their arrival, as they did not encounter significant health issues. Reflecting on their birth, Torres commented:
“Carter needed oxygen for two hours, but that was it. The only reason they spent five weeks in the hospital is because we were waiting on a special car seat to arrive.”
The couple had to make a crucial decision on whether to undergo separation surgery for their twins, which posed potential risks and would result in a fresh set of challenges for the siblings.
Torres Won’t Separate Her Daughters
Currently, Torres and her spouse have opted against separation surgery, citing the high level of risk associated with the 24-hour procedure, and stating that as they are in good health, there is no immediate necessity to undergo it.
The medical practitioners suggested that the twins undergo the surgery before the age of four since they wouldn’t retain any recollection of the discomfort. However, now that the twins have grown older, Torres disclosed that neither of them has ever shown any inclination to be separated from their sibling. She added that whenever anyone inquires about their willingness to undergo the procedure, the twins appear perplexed.
According to Dr. Steven Stylianos, the lead surgeon at the New York Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, conjoined twins can live an average lifespan and tend to pass away together once one of them develops an incurable illness.
Despite Torres’ assurances that her daughters are content with being conjoined, she has faced criticism for her supposed “selfish” choice to not separate them. However, Torres explained that her apprehension towards the possible health risks is too great, and as her daughters are thriving and in good health, she sees no reason to alter their current situation.
Since the girls have never experienced anything other than being conjoined, they cannot comprehend why anyone would want them to undergo separation surgery. They cherish their constant physical proximity to each other and feel content that way. However, whenever they require some time apart, one of them will use headphones and a tablet to watch television.
According to Torres, her daughters possess contrasting personalities. One of them adores feminine things such as lip gloss, whereas the other is relatively unfazed by such products.
Torres disclosed that the most demanding aspect of raising conjoined twins is clothing them. She has to purchase two of everything and then cut and stitch the garments together to fit her daughters appropriately.
Nonetheless, Torres highlights numerous benefits to having conjoined twins. For instance, her daughters share an inseparable bond and can console each other when feeling upset or apprehensive. Additionally, they relish attending school and acquiring knowledge. Torres emphasizes that her girls are the closest of friends, and she does not want to jeopardize that by pursuing separation surgery.